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David Amor, creative director at Buzz developer Relentless when asked if games had now become fully mainstream.
"There are 20 million people that watch Coronation Street in theUK...so the idea that we're truly mass market...it's not the case yet."
Despite this he goes on to argue that any stigma attached to gaming hasall but disappeared. "The PSOne took some of it away, it was positionedas a cool device, and PlayStation 2 has seen people recognise that thesystem isn't just for boys."
I agree with the first quote. The Wii and DS have undoubtedly helpedbut gaming still has a way to go before it becomes truly mass market.And maybe it never will. Gaming, no matter how Wii Sport friendly,always requires an effort. How can it ever really compete against thepassivity of TV? Of course, there is an age gap too, though this willobviously shrink. </br?>
I'm less convinced about the stigma thing though. Yes, gaming is farremoved from the spotty teenage stereotype of yore, but that perceptionstill lingers. Media headlines still talk about gaming addicts orgeeks. Publishers don't help either. For every Wii Fit or Cooking Mamathey are still churning out 20 titles based around guns, cars andsport. So yes, the stigma has faded but it hasn't disappeared. Afterall, when was the last time you mentioned your gaming hobby to someoneyou've just met?